Domestic appliance



Nov. 28, 1944. D. K. FizRRls v 2,353,517

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed June 30, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 28, 1944. D. K. FERRIS DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed June so, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 28,1944. v F s 2,363,517

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed June 30, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 f l l H Q N Nov. 28, 1944. D. K. FERRIS DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed June 30, 1939 5 Sheetsa 4 Avg? Patented Nov. 28, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Donald K. Ferris, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to Gen eral Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application June so, 1939, Serial No. 282,228 29 Claims. (Cl. sea-54) This invention relates to domestic appliance, and more particularly to ironing machines.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved ironer with a small shoe by which wearing apparel may be readily ironed, the small shoe being coordinated with the other shoe to form a large shoe structure for efllcient ironing of fiat work.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ironing machine which is easily changeable from an adjustment for ironing wearing apparel, to an adjustment for ironing flat work without the necessity of shifting the shoe structure.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a. preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of my improved ironer in idle position;

Fig. 2 is a. view similar to Fig. l, but showing the ironer with the small shoe in position for ironing odd shaped articles;

Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in cross-section, of the shoe side of the ironer;

Fig. 4 is a top elevation of the outer end of the roller shoe construction, and showing the small shoe attachment for use in ironing odd shaped articles;

Fig. 5 is a view, somewhat diagrammatic, showing the heating mechanism internally placed in the small shoe;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view, with parts omitted, indicating the position of the roller and shoe structure with the shoe structure at its maximum retraction; V

, Fig. 7 is a-view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the shoe structure brought into engagement with the roller;

Fig. '8 is a view similar to Fig. '7, but showing certain portions in cross-section:

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the major shoe at its maximum retraction and the small shoe at intermediate retraction, in

readiness to bring the small shoe into engagement with the roller while lifting the major shoe out ofengagement; e v e i Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but showing. the small shoe in engagement with the roller and the major shoe slightly retracted toallow the ironing of'odd shaped articles; I

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic showing or the controls for the heating elements or the two shoes.

Fig. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the gear box 2|.

An ironing machine embodying my invention includes a stand III, a roller or padded member I I, a major shoe l2 and a small shoe I3. The arrangement is such that, by actuating certain controls, it is possible to bring the small shoe l3 alone into engagement with the roller II, and to cause the roller or padded member I I either to rotate or remain stationary as desired. By changing the controls, it is also possible to bring both the majorshoe I 2 and small shoe l3 both into engagement with the roller, with or without the rotation of the roller. By another change in the controls, it is possible to bring the major shoe I2 alone into engagement with the roller and to have the roller rotate or remain'stationary. If desired the drive mechanism for the roller may be of the variable speed type with an adjustment to obtain the selected speed.- Any method of placing the shoes in contact with the padded member may be used, either the shoes bein moved or the padded member being moved, or

both. 7

The small shoe I3 is so coordinated with the major shoe 12 that, when they are brought together against the roller, they form a substantially unitary large shoe for use in ironing flat work,

or pressing clothes. On the other hand, the

small shoe l3 alone, or the major shoe l2, can be brought againstthe roller. The small shoe I3 the rollerto form the diagonal shoe edges l3a and Ho. The edge l3a merges with the curved leading edge I3b to form the point I30. By this construction the small shoe I3 is given a shape very nearly the same as an ordinary hand iron, and

may be readily used for ironing the sleeves, collars, etc., of wearlng'apparel. On the other hand, the diagonal edges Ho and I 3a cooperate when shoes .l2 and I3 are used together, to form a larger, unitary shoe structure for ironing flat work and present a; substantially curved end which is useful in ironing both wearing apparel and fiat work. The seam fonnegtby edges l2a and 13a does not crease the fiat work because it is diagonally directed, and thusirons out any 2 crease that would otherwise tend to form. By this construction the two shoes l2 and I3 present a relatively continuous or smooth front to the oncoming work when used together for ,use with fiat work, and the small shoe l3, when used alone.

' presents a relatively pointed front for use with wearing apparel. As the article to' be ironed passes under the two shoes, when used together, an unbroken path of ironing contact is produced on the article to be ironed, which is wider than the large shoe, and which contains no crease at the place where the twoshoes meet. This is due to the overlapping or diagonal contact between the two shoes, which prevents the formation of any crease at this point.

The small shoe i3 may be heated by a heating element l-3d, preferably placed along the edge of the shoe. Thisheating element ltd may be controlled by the opening and closing of thermostatic switch l3e placed in the shoe.

The large shoe i2 is provided with a heating element l'2d placed in the shoe and controlled by the thermostatic switch l2e placed in the shoe.

A manual switch S is provided which energizes selectively the'small shoe heater Nd, the large shoe heater I 2d or both together.

The small shoe preferably is placed adiacent the open end of theroller to facilitate the ironing of wearing apparel.

The controls for operating and adjusting the ironer are so placed that they are easily actuated by the user. For example, the pedal i5,

when depressed, initiates a cycle of operations -such as to bring the selected shoe, or shoes, into engagement with the roller, and simultaneously vent the shoes i2 and i3-from coming into con- .tact with the roller ll when the-pedal I5 is depressed. By bringing forward either of the levers l6 or H while permitting the other lever to remain in the back position, the corresponding shoe l2 or l3 respectively alone is brought into contact with the roller II when the pedal I5 is depressed. The handle I8 is used to control the roller operation, causing the roller to rotate or to remain stationary, as selected when the pedal is depressed.

The shoe structure is actuated by the horizontal rod 20. This 'rod is rockedabout its axis by any suitable mechanism in the gear box 2!, well known in the art. Mechanisms for actuating the rod 20 counterclockwise and the roller H clockwise under control of a pedal or handle are well known. Merely as examples, suitable mechanisms are shown in U. S. patent to Janda 2,026,345; Foley 1,970,511; and Peter et a1. 1,921,301, which perform one or more ,of these operations. I

The shoes I2 and I3 -aremounted on the .rod

'lever it can be, rotated about the axis pin 25 without affecting the shoe. This shoe l2 rests loosely on the housing 24 when retracted, as

shown in Figs. 6, 9 and 10. The lever it, when pulledforward by the user, has its lower end Ilia wedged into engagement with the spring 22, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8, so that, when the rod 20 is rocked counter-clockwise, the spring 22 forces the shoe l2 into engagement with the roller ll. When in the position shown. in Figs. '7 and 8, the shoe l2 does not rest on housing 24. On the other hand, when the lever i6 is pushed away from the user, to swing it about the pin 25 (in aclockwise direction), the end Ilia of the lever' I6 is moved out of wedging engagement with they spring 22, as indicated in Figs. 6, 9 and 10, so that when rod 20 is rocked forward in a counter-clockwise direction, the shoe i2 does not come into contact with the roller II but rests loosely on housing 24. Shoe 13 has a similar construction, and is similarly connected to the rod 20. The lever control I] causes the shoe E3 to engage the roller II, when the lever is in its forward position and when the rod 20 is rocked forward. Engagement of the shoe i3 is prevented when the lever is in its back position. To this end, the spring 23, similar to the spring 22, is secured to the rod 20 and is enclosed in a housing 26, similar to the housing 23. The lever ll swings about a pin Zl, similar to the pin 25, so that its lower end Ha can engage the spring 23 in a manto cause the roller to rotate, or to remain sta- 'tionary, as sodesired. The levers I6 and i! are 1 so arranged that, when they are moved towardsthe operator, they cause the respective shoes l2 20 to be brought into engagement with the roller II by the counterclockwise rocking movement of the rod 20. To this end, the rod 20 carries cantilever supports for the shoes in the form of leaf springs 22 and 23 inside of lever-like housings 24 and 2-5. The housings 24 and 26 are freely roner similar to that described with respect to shoe l2. The shoe i3 is loosely mounted on the pin 21, so that the lever ill may be rocked independently of the shoe. Springs 30 and 3| are provided to cause positive retraction of the corresponding shoe structure (52 or l3) when the rod 20 is rocked in a clockwise direction to disengage the shoes from the roller. Thus, by the setting of the levers i6 and H, the user can select whether the shoe I2 alone, the shoe l3 alone, or both shoes together, shall engage with the roller II when the pedal i5 is depressed. The levers l6 and i! also act as quick releases should the user desire quickly to release the corresponding shoe from the roller. This is accomplished merely by knocking the levers away from the user while the corresponding shoe is still in engagement with the roller.

Proper driving mechanism is provided to cause the rod 20 to swing the shoe or shoes into engagement with the roller H, and to cause the roller to rotate-or remain stationary. This mechanism .is housed in the box 2 l' and is driven by the motor 40.

This mechanism may be of any well known construction, such as illustrated in Fig. 13, which may be readily understood by reference to Fig. 2 and to the Janda Patent No. 2,026,345 previously referred to. Fig. 13 shows portions of the Janda patent Fig. 2, slightly modified, and applied to applicants structure. Certain reference numerals from the Janda patent have been repeated, with the letter J ailixed in order to identify the same.

The pedal [5 is then depressed, and,

and I3 into contact with the roll II. This move-' ment also rocks the arm 8, through a lost motion connection 89J, thus lowering the clutch fork member '9IJ. This actuates the clutch mechanism, further illustrated and described in the said Janda patent, and causes the motor 40 to rotate the bevel pinion IJ, the bevel gear 53J and the roll II. The ironer then continues to operate with the shoe or shoes I2 and I3 against the rotating roll II until the user again depresses the pedal I5, and quickly releases it. This again lowers the upper end I2IJ of the rod 36 to cause the eccentric structure 'I5J to rotate 180 from the position shown in Fig. 13. This rocks the shaft 20 clockwise, to move the shoe or shoes I2 and I3 away from the roll II, and raises the clutch fork member a IJ to declutch the bevel pinion 5IJ, and thus stop rotation of the roll II.

Should the user wish to stop rotation of the roll II while the shoes are in contact therewith,

or wish to maintain the roll II stationary while causing the shoes to be actuated into contact with the roll, the handle I8, which corresponds to handle I02 of the Janda patent, may be turned to rotate the shaft 9IJ to another position. This prevents the clutch mechanism 9IJ from actuating the bevel pinion 5| J, as more fully described in the said Janda patent. Thus by moving the handle I8 in one direction, the roll II may be caused to rotate when the shoes are in contact therewith, or by moving the handle I8 in the other direction, the roll it may be caused to remain stationary when the shoes are in contact therewith.

Further details of construction and operation of this transmission are illustrated and described in the said Janda patent, to which reference is cnade for a further understandingof its opera- By this arrangement, the user can easily adjust the ironer for ironing wearing apparel, ironing flat work, or pressing clothes.

The shape of my small shoe is of particular advantage when applied to a roller. By having the edges lite: and lib directed towards the same oblique point lilo, a special advantage is created when ironing wearing apparel having seams.

Ordinarily the user-can see only the front part, liib, lilo of the shoe. If the small shoe were shaped exactly like the ordinary hand iron, with the pointat the central axis of the iron, it would be necessary to guide a longitudinal seam for a long distance around the roll until the seam would reach the widest part of the iron. However, sincethe point or myshoe isthe farthest offset point on that side of the shoe, the user can feed the seam of the clothes past the point Ildc. and after that it is unnecessary to watch the clothes as they pass to the lower back portion of the roll beyond the horizon. In order to show this feature more clearly, Fig. 12 has been drawn to illustrate the advantages of this feature. In Fig. 12 the point tic is shown ironing wearing apparel adjacentto the seam to of the wearing apparel. The horizon or'point where the users vision around the rollbecomes obsoured, is indicated by the line 5|. It is thus seen that the small shoe I3 has ironed the apparel close to the seam 50 in the visible area of the roll, audit is unnecessary to follow visually the wearing apparel beyond the horizon 5|. In addition, the shape of an ordinary hand iron has been indicated by the dotted line 52, in Fig. 12'

with the point of the iron at 53 along the central axis of the iron. If it is'desired to iron wearing apparel adjacent to the seam 50, it is necessary to feed the seam so that the edge 54 of the iron can iron-the apparel adjacent to the seam, However, the seam does not reach the iron edge 54 until the straight edge of the iron is reached at the point 55, whichpoint is quite likely to be beyond the horizon- 5| because of the curvature of the roll. Thus, by having the small shoe point I 30 at a place where it marks the farthest offset point from the central axis of the iron' along one edge, an outstanding advantage is obtained.

The control levers I6 and I! are provided with.

adjustable ends [60. and Ila which have screwthreaded engagement in the lever blocks I6b and "D. The adjustable ends I Ba and Na may be adjusted as to length with this threaded engagement, and then secured at the selected adjusted length by means of the lock nuts I Iic and He. The user may thus adjust the pressure produced on the shoes I2 and I3 by the levers I5 and I1.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An ironer comprising a padded member, a unitary rock shaft adjacent to said padded meniber, a first support on said rock shaft, a first shoe on-said support, a second support on said shaft,

a second shoe on said second support, and con- I trols for causing at least one of said shoes to ill come into working contact, or to remain out of working contact, with said padded member when said rock shaft rocks said supports toward said padded member.

2. An ironer comprising a padded member, rock shaft means adjacent to said padded member, a leaf spring support on said rock shaft means, a first shoe on said leaf spring support, a second support on said rock shaft means, a second shoe on said second support, and a lever control on said leaf spring support for causing said first shoe to come into working contact, or to remain out of working contact, with said padded member when said rock shaft means rocks said leaf spring support toward said padded member.

3. An ironer comprising a padded member, rock shaft means adjacent to said padded member, a

first leaf spring support on said rock shaft means, a first shoe on said leaf spring support, a second leaf spring support on said rock shaft means, a second shoe on said second leaf spring support, a lever control on said first leaf spring support for causing said first shoe to come into Working contact, or to remain out of working contact, with said padded member when said rock shaft means rocks said first leaf spring support toward said padded member, and another lever control on said second leaf spring support for causing said second shoe to come into working contact, or to remain out of working contact, with said padded member when said rook shaft means rocks said second leaf spring support toward said padded member.

for causing said first shoe to come into workingcontact, or to remain out of working contact,

shoe being swingingly secured to said rock shaft by'said lever, housing and spring, and being ad'- with. said roller when said rock shaft rocks said v first leaf spring support toward said roller.

5. An ironer comprising a movable padded member for carrying an article to be ironed, a large shoe and a small shoe having overlapping edges and cooperating with one another and with the movable padded member to provide an unbroken'path of ironing contact wider than said.

large shoe, means for placing said shoes independently or together in ironing contact and out of ironing contact with said padded member,

and a single lever for controlling both shoes simultaneously when used together in forming said main shoe, said small shoe being adjacent an open end of said padded member and being supported to permit insertion of clothing past saidopen end.

6. An ironer shoe, a rock shaft adjacent to said padded member, a cantilever leaf spring secured to said shaft, a lever-like housing rotatably mounted on said shaft about said spring, a control lever fulcrumed on said housing and having on and oif engagement with said spring, said shoe being swingingly secured to said rock shaft by said lever, housing and spring, and being adjustable for working engagement or free clearance by said lever when said rockshaft moves said spring toward said padded member, and adjustable means for regulating the tension of said leaf spring on said shoe.

7. An ironer comprising a roller, a shoe, a rock shaft adjacent to said roller, a cantilever leaf spring secured to'said shaft, a lever-like housing rotatablymounted on said shaft about said spring, a control lever fulcrumed on said housing and having on and ofi engagement with said spring, said shoe being swingingly secured to said rockshait' by said lever, housing and spring, and

'beingfadjustable for working engagement or free clearance by said lever when said rock shaft .rnoves said spring toward said roller, a second cantilever leaf spring secured to said shaft, a "second lever-like housing rotatably mounted on said shaft about said second spring, a control lever fulcrumed on said second housing and having on and off engagement with said second spring, said second shoe-being swingingly secured to said rock shaft by said second lever, second "housing and second spri g, and being adjustable said rock shaft by said lever, housing and spring,

and being adjustable for workin engagement or free clearance by said lever when said rock shaft 'moves said spring toward said roller, and means for retracting said shoe from said roller.

9. An ironer comprising a roller, a shoe, a rock shaft adjacent to said roller, a cantilever spring member secured to said shaft, a lever-like housing member rotatably mounted on said shaft about said spring, a control lever fulcrumed on one of said members and having anon and off engagement with the other of said members, said comprising a padded member, a i

.justable for working engagement or free clearance by said lever when said rock shaft moves a said spring towards said roller.

10. An ironer comprising a movable padded member, a large shoe, a small tapered shoe, said shoes having mating adjacent edges and means for placing said small shoe alone or together with said large shoe forming a unitary compound shoe in contact with said padded member, said shoes together presenting a substantially unbroken leading edge, said shoes being relatively fixed longitudinally of the roller.

11. An ironer comprising a padded member, a shoe, a rock shaft adjacent to said padded member, a cantilever spring member secured to said shaft, a lever-like housing member rotatably mounted about said shaft adjacent said spring, a control lever fulcrumed on one of said members and having an on'andoff engagement with the other of said members, said shoe being swingingly secured to said rock shaft by said lever, housing and spring, and being adjustable for working engagement or fre clearance by said lever when said rock shaft moves said spring toplacing said small shoe aloneor with said large wards said padded member.

12. An ironer comprising a movable padded member, a large shoe, a small shoe, said shoes having adjacent mating edges, and means for shoe in contact with said padded member, said small shoe having a leading point extending laterally at least as far as the remainder of the edge Of the shoe on that side of the shoe and mating with said large shoe to form a unitary combined shoe with a substantially unbroken leading edge,

13. An ironer comprising a movable padded member for carrying an article to be ironed, a large shoe and a small shoe having overlapping edges and cooperating with one another and with the movable padded member to provide an unbroken path of ironing contact wider than said a large shoe, a motor, operating and release means,

actuating selectively from said motor, one shoe section or more than one shoe section together into or out of ironing contact with the padded member.

-14. An ironer comprising a rotatable padded member for carrying an article to be ironed, a motor, a large shoe and a small shoe having overlapping edges and cooperating with one an-v other and with the rotatable padded member to provide'an unbroken path of ironing contact wider'than said large shoe, a transmission between said motor and padded member for causing rotation of said'padded member, a station clutch for causing contact of said shoes with saidpadded member, and means for actuating both of said shoes together and either shoe separately with said station clutch.

15. An ironer comprising a rotatable padded member for carrying an article to be ironed, a

motor, (a large shoe and "a small shoe having overlapping edges andcooperating with one another and with-the movable paddedmember to provide an unbroken path'of ironing contact wider than said large shoe, said small shoe having a pointed lea i edge, a transmission between said motor and padded member for caus ing rotation of said padded member, a station clutch for causing contact of said shoes with said padded member, and means for actuating both of said shoes together and either shoe separately with said station clutch.

16. An ironer comprising a substantially cylindrical roll, means for rotating and supporting said roll at one end of the roll, the other end of the roll being free and unsupported, a large shoe and a small shoe cooperatively mounted to produce a relatively long and narrow shoe structure adjacent said roll having a substantially straight leading edge along the major portion of its length, means for moving said structure against said roll with said shoes together as a unit, and for moving said small shoe alone, the end of said structure adjacent the free end .of the roll being convexed toward said free and unsupported end of said roll, and merging with said substantially straight leading edge.

1'7. An ironer comprising a movable padded member for carrying an article to be ironed, a large shoe and a small shoe having overlapping edges and cooperating with one another and with the movable padded member to provide a main shoe producing an'unbroken path of ironing contact wider than said large shoe, means for placing said large shoe and said small shoe independently or together in contact and out of contact with said padded member, and a single lever for controlling both shoes simultaneously when used together in providing said main shoe and for controlling either shoe independently of the other. r

18. An ironer comprising a movable padded member for carrying an article to be ironed, a large shoe and a small shoe having overlapping edges and cooperating withlone another and with the movable padded member to provide an unbroken path of ironing contact wider than said large shoe, means for placing said small shoe alone or together with said large shoe in contact with said padded member, and said shoes being separated by substantially parallel edges disposed at an acute angle to the direction of movement of said padded member to prevent the formation of creases by said edges when said shoes are placed together in contact with said padded member.

19. An ironer comprising a movable padded member, a large shoe and a small shoe adjacent one another and cooperating to provide a main shoe, means forplacing said small shoe alone or togetherwith said large shoe in contact with said padded member, said small shoe being provided with a leading edge tapering away from said large shoe and merging with the leading edge of said large shoe and said shoes being separated by substantially parallel edges disposed at an acute angle to the direction of movement of said padded member to prevent the formation of creases by said edges when said shoes are placed together in contact with said padded member, mountings for said shoes arranged so that said shoe edges provide said main shoe with a relatively continuous front to oncoming work and the edge of, said small shoe when placed alone in contact with said padded member with a relatively pointed front to oncoming work.

20. An ironer comprising-a rotatable cylindri cal roller for carrying an article to be ironed, a relatively large arced shoe movable to and away from said roller, a relatively small arced shoe movable to and away from said roller, said shoes having substantially overlapping edges and cooperating with one another and with the cylindrical roller to provide an unbroken path of ironing contact wider than said large arced shoe, and means for moving said shoes together and said small shoe independently of said large shoe to and away from said roller.

21. An ironer comprising a rotatable cylindrical roller forcarrying an article to be ironed, a relatively large arced shoe movable to and away from said roller, a relatively small arced shoe movable to and away from said roller, said shoes having overlapping edges and cooperating with one another and with said cylindrical roller to provide an unbroken path of ironing contact wider than said large arced shoe, power means, means for connecting said power means to said roller, means for connecting said large shoe to said power means for movement of said large shoe to and away from said roller, a controlling manipulator for said last named means, means for connecting said small shoe to said power means for movement of said small shoe to and away from said roller, and a controlling manipulator for said last named means, said manipulators being actuatable to cause movement of said shoes either together or independently of each other.

22. An ironer comprising a rotatable cylindrical roller for carrying an article to be ironed, a relatively large arced shoe movable to and away from said roller, a relatively small arced. shoe movable to and away from said roller, said shoes having substantially overlapping edges and cooperating with one another and with the cylindrical roller to provide an unbroken path of ironing contact wider than said large arced shoe, power means, means for connecting said power means to said roller, means for connecting said large shoe to said power means for movement of said large shoe to and away from said roller, a controlling manipulator for said last named means, means for connecting said small shoe to said power means for movement of said small shoe to and away from said roller, and a controlling manipulator for said last named means, said manipulators being actuatable to cause movement of said shoes either together or independently of each other.

23. An ironer comprising a rotatable cylindrical roller, a relatively large arced shoe movable to and away from said roller, a relatively small arced shoe movable to and away from said roller, power means, meansfor connecting said power means to said roller, means for connecting said large shoe to said power means for movement of said large shoe to and away from said roller, a controlling manipulator for said last named means, means for connecting said small shoe to said power means for movementof said small shoe to and away from said roller, a controlling manipulator for said, last named means, said manipulators being actuatable to cause movement of said shoes either together or independently of each other, and a clutch means controlled by a third manipulator for moving said shoes as selected by said two first named manipulators.

24. Anironer comprising a rotatable cylindrical roller, a relatively large arced shoe, a relatively small arced shoe, said shoes having substantially mating adjacent edges to form a unitary compound shoe, a first manipulator for conditioning said large shoe to contact said roller, a second manipulator for conditioning said small shoe to contact said roller, said manipulators I being movable into conditioning position independently of each other, power means, transshoe alone in contact with said padded member,

said shoes presenting a relatively continuous front to said work when used together and said small shoe presenting a relatively pointed front to the oncoming work when used alone.

26. An ironer comprising a rotatable ironing member presenting an ironing surface of predetermined length, means' for rotating said rot'atable member, a long ironing shoe of substantially shorter length than said predetermined length of said rotatable member, a short ironing shoe, means for moving said'short shoe alone or both of said shoes into ironing relation with said rotatable member, andsaid long shoe and said short shoe cooperating with one another to formaligned complementary portions of a compound shoe member having an ironing surface substantialy equal to but not longer than said predetermined length of said rotatable member when both shoes and said rotatable member are brought together in ironing relation.

27. An ironer comprising, a long ironing shoe, a short ironing shoe, a rotatable padded member of predetermined length adapted to carry work to the front of and under said shoes, means for rotating said rotatable padded member, means for moving said short shoe alone or both of said shoes into ironing relation with said padded member, said shoes cooperating with one an.- other when used together to form aligned compleinentary portions of a compound shoe. member presenting a relatively continuous front to oncoming work and having an ironing surface substantially equal to but not longer than the predetermined length of said padded member, and said shoes having parallel meeting edges disposed at an acute angle to the path of rotation of said padded member to prevent the formation of creases in the workwhen both shoes are used together.

28. An ironer comprising a movable padded member adapted to carry an article to be ironed, means for moving 'said'mernber, and a shoe adapted to have ironing contact with said member to produce an ironing path on said article as it is moved past the said shoe, said shoe having'a leading point positioned far to one side of the central line of said path and substantially 'at'the extreme laterally outward point of the shoe which produces one lateral edge of said path, said leading point being in advance of any other part of said shoe in the direction of the oncoming article to be ironed. 29. An ironing machine comprising a rotatabl roll, a large shoe, a small shoe, said shoes having ironing surfaces alignable substantially into a unitary ironing surface, rockable supports for said shoes in the rear of said roll, individual.

control levers for said shoes to render said rockable supports effective or ineffective to bring both shoes or one shoe in ironing contact with said roll, and power means to rotate said roll and to rock said rockable supports. y DONALD K. FERRIS. 

